Flexible fishing lure tails and appendages

ABSTRACT

Flexible fishing lure tails and appendages having extending or projecting shoulder surfaces to facilitate a simulated swimming action by the drag and eddy principle of water flow. One or more shoulders are provided in the surfaces of the flexible fishing lure tails to facilitate the swimming action as the lure to which the tail or appendage is attached is retrieved through a water body. This swimming action due to the vibration of the tail and appendage segment and the body of the fishing lure is unique and simulates live lizards, worms, crawfish, grubs, minnows and the like, a primary characteristic that attracts fish. The tail and appendage segments can be removably or permanently fixed to both hard and soft body lures or molded in combination with a lure body of selected length, size, color and plastic composition characteristics to facilitate the desired swimming action and vibration and thus the attraction to game fish of every variety.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/175,561 filed on Jun.18, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,220.

This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/299,468, filed Jun. 21, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to fishing lures and more particularly, to softplastic fishing lures and hard body fishing lures having tail portionsand appendages fitted with projecting or extending shoulder segmentsthat create a drag and eddy effect and simulate a swimming action as thelure is retrieved through a water body. This drag and eddy effect causesthe tail and appendage portion of the lure to move back and forth andvibrate, which vibrates the body segment, responsive to a selectedretrieval speed to attract fish.

One of the most effective lures in taking game fish, including game fishof the fresh water variety such as large mouth and small mouth bass,crappie and the like, as well as salt water varieties, including redfish, speckled trout and other fish, is the plastic lure, which can bemolded into substantially any desired size, shape and consistency.Typical of these conventional plastic lures is a tail portion that has arounded or ribbon shape and is connected to or integrally formed withthe body portion at a narrowed area to facilitate a simulated swimmingaction when the lure is retrieved. These plastic lures are typicallyused with bare and weighted hooks, jig heads, spinner bait harnesses andother hook arrangements known to those skilled in the art to furtherfacilitate the swimming action and to allow the lure to be fished at avariety of depths and retrieval speed in a water body. The plastic lurescan be molded into worm configurations having beads or segments whichcan then be attached to a jig head, for example, and fished on thebottom of a water body as the lead or metal portion of the jig headcauses the entire lure to sink, to facilitate bouncing the lure off thebottom in a swimming or crawling simulation. Typical of these lures arethe lures detailed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 2,994,982,issued Aug. 8, 1961, to S. A. Murawski; U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,953, issuedMay 27, 1969, to J. J. Dailey; U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,749, issued Jun. 22,1971, to Edward R. Dieckmann; U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,774, issued Jul. 31,1973, to Sherman G. Bryant; U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,882, issued Apr. 29,1975, to Oscar J. Rask; U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,979, issued May 20, 1975, toWilliam O. Williams, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,455, issued Feb. 21, 1978,to William O. Williams, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,841, dated Apr. 15,1986, to Joseph C. Gish; U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,012, dated Sep. 26, 1989,to David L. Brenholt; U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,226, dated Feb. 18, 1992, toNorman L. Bazinet; U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,299, dated Mar. 16, 1993, toRobert P. Correll; U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,039, dated Oct. 10, 1995, toHenry F. Pisoni, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,141, 900, dated Nov. 7, 2000, toJohn A. Rudolph; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,006, dated Dec. 26, 2000, toLyle M. Peterson;

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved flexiblefishing lure tails and appendages for various types of fishing lures,which tail portions and appendages are designed to vibrate and simulatea life-like swimming action and generate a vibration and life-likeswimming action in the body portion when the lure is retrieved through awater body.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved flexibletail portions and appendages for various types of solid and flexibleplastic fishing lures, which tail portions and appendages may either bemolded integrally with the body portions of the lure or attached to thebody portions, and are fitted with shoulder segments or projections tofacilitate vibration and a life-like swimming action in both the tailand, by energy transmission, in the body portions, when the lures areretrieved at various speeds through a water body.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved,flexible plastic fishing lure tail and appendage system which ischaracterized by shoulder projections near the terminal resilient tailportion and appendage segment of the lures, to create a drag and eddycondition when the tail or appendage is attached or molded integrallywith a fishing lure body of selected size, shape and design and isretrieved through a water body, to facilitate a life-like swimmingmotion of the entire fishing lure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide flexible plasticfishing lures, including flexible, resilient and typically forked orblocked tail and appendage portions or segments, that incorporate araised projection or shoulder to facilitate a tail vibration and aninduced body vibration that is proportional to the speed of lureretrieval, and a life-like swimming action through the water based onthe drag and eddy principle, as the lure is retrieved through the waterbody.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedsoft, flexible plastic fishing lure tail and appendage design which maybe of any desired thickness and typically forked or blocked andincorporated in a plastic lure or a hard body lure of substantially anydesign, shape and size to simulate a life-like swimming action andfacilitate a vibration of the tail and appendage portion as well as thebody portion, responsive to retrieval of the lure through the water, themagnitude of which vibration and energy transmission to the body dependsupon the tail and appendage design and the speed of retrieval of thelure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide new and improvedtail portions of selected thickness and size which can be used onflexible and resilient plastic or hard body artificial lures such aslizards, worms, crawfish, grubs, minnows, tube baits, jig trailers andthe like, of any desired size, color, shape and design, which tailportions include a projecting shoulder or edge of selected size on eachside of the tail that cause a drag and eddy effect to create a vibrationin the tail and body portions of the lure, which vibration simulates anatural swimming action, the intensity and energy of which vibration istransmitted to the lure body and is controlled by the speed of retrievalof the lure through a water body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for vibrating thetail and body of a fishing lure having at least a flexible tailextending from the body, which method includes providing a shoulder onthe tail for vibrating the tail and the body when the lure is retrieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are provided in new andimproved soft plastic or hard body fishing lures and lure tails andappendages of any desired design, size, color and configuration, and amethod for inducing vibration in the lure bodies tails and appendages,the bodies of which fishing lures incorporate flexible and resilienttail portions of selected size and thickness, fitted with projectingshoulders, projections or enlargements of selected size that aretypically forked or blocked and which react to water pressure accordingto the drag and eddy principle and undulate and “swim” through the waterduring retrieval with a vibration that is imparted from the tail to thebody portion, the intensity of which vibration is directly proportionalto the speed of retrieval of the lure through the water and the taildesign.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical forked tail lure of this invention,having a forked tail portion;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 1, moreparticularly illustrating the swimming and vibrating motion of theforked tail portion during lure retrieval;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a block tail lure of this invention, having ablock tail portion;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4—4 of the block tail lureillustrated in FIG. 3, more particularly illustrating an illustrativeneck, neck extension and shoulder of the block tail portion;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 4—4 of the block tail lureillustrated in FIG. 3, more particularly illustrating an alternativeneck extension and shoulder configuration for the block tail portion;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 4—4 of the block tail lureillustrated in FIG. 3, more particularly illustrating yet anotherillustrative configuration of the neck extension and shoulder componentsof the block tail portion thereof;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 1,more particularly illustrating yet another design for the forked tailportion thereof;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8—8 of the forked tail lureillustrated in FIG. 7, more particularly illustrating thin fork tailneck, neck extension and fork extension configurations for the forkedtail portion;

FIG. 9 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the forked tail lureillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, more particularly illustrating analternative thicker fork tail neck design for the forked tail portion,wherein the forked tail neck is of intermediate thickness;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10—10 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 9, more particularly illustrating theintermediate fork tail neck thickness;

FIG. 11 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the forked tail lureillustrated in FIGS. 1, 7 and 9, more particularly illustrating a forkedtail neck which is thicker in construction than the forked tail neckillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly illustrating an increasedthickness of the forked tail neck;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly illustrating analternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension andfork extension elements of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11, illustrating still another preferredembodiment of the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extensionof the forked tail portion;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly illustrating yet anotherconfiguration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and forkextension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly illustrating analternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension,and fork extension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly illustrating a stillfurther alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neckextension and fork extension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly illustrating yet anotheralternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension andfork extension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating yet another alternativeconfiguration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and forkextension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating still another alternativeconfiguration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the forkextension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrating yet another alternativeconfiguration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the forkextension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating another alternativeconfiguration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the forkextension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating still another alternativeconfiguration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the forkextension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating yet another alternativeconfiguration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the forkextension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along line 12—12 of the forked taillure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating another alternativeconfiguration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the forkextension of the forked tail portion;

FIG. 26 is a side view of a thin fin lure having extended flexible,resilient, caudal and anal fins and fitted with a flexible, resilientforked tail portion as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7–25;

FIG. 27 is a side view of a dual vertical forked tail lure having a pairof flexible, resilient dual forked tail portions having configurationsas illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7–25;

FIG. 28 is a side view of a dual block fin lure having flexible andresilient dorsal block fin and caudal block fins similar in design tothe block tail portions illustrated in FIGS. 3–6 and also having aflexible, resilient forked tail portion as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and7–25 and a pair of flexible and resilient streamer fins extending fromthe forked tail portion thereof;

FIG. 29 is a front perspective view of a dual horizontal forked taillure which is characterized by flexible and resilient dorsal and caudalblock fins similar in design to the block tail portions as illustratedin FIGS. 3–6 and also having a pair of flexible and resilient forkedtail portions separated by a slot and oriented substantially in thehorizontal plane;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a removable tail lure having a soft orhard body portion and a typically flexible and resilient forked tailportion or a block tail portion connected to the body portion by meansof a tail connector;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a spinner bait lure having a soft bodyportion impaled on a jig head hook, which jig head hook is molded on awire harness having spinners, in conventional fashion and which softbody portion is fitted with a flexible and resilient forked tail portionconnected to the body portion by means of a tail connector;

FIG. 32 is a side view of a jig head, the hook of which is impaled in aflexible, resilient forked tail lure body, typically having a forkedtail portion of the design illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7–25;

FIG. 33 is a side view of an alternative jig head fitted with aflexible, resilient beaded worm body, typically terminating in aflexible, resilient forked tail portion illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7–25;

FIG. 34 is a top view of a hard body or flexible, resilient crawfishlure having a pair of flexible, resilient forked claws, which forkedclaws are typically designed in similar fashion to the forked tailportions as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7–25;

FIG. 35 is a top view of a segmented worm lure which is characterized byan elongated, flexible, resilient worm body fitted with a tail connectorand a flexible and resilient segmented worm lure forked tail portion orappendage, typically having the same design as the forked tail portionillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7–25;

FIG. 36 is a side view of a multiple shoulder forked tail lure having abody portion and multiple, flexible, resilient shoulders on a flexible,resilient tail portion, such as the forked tail portion of the forkedtail lures illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7–25 or the block tail portion ofin the block tail lures illustrated in FIGS. 3–6;

FIG. 37 is a slotted tail lure having a flexible, resilient, slottedtail portion fitted with projecting slot extensions for exhibiting aswimming action; and

FIG. 38 is a grooved tail lure having a body portion and a flexible,resilient grooved tail portion having a tail groove on both sidesthereof through the grooved tail shoulder portion, thus enhancing theswimming action.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, in a firstembodiment of the invention a forked tail lure is generally illustratedby reference numeral 1. The forced tail lure 1 is typicallycharacterized by a soft, resilient, flexible, typically plastic forkedtail lure body 5 shaped generally in the configuration of a minnow orsmall bait fish of selected size and color and having a simulated caudalfin 2, an anal fin 3 and a pectoral fin 4 on the forked tail lure body5. A hook 6 includes a hook shank 6 b which is embedded in the forkedtail lure body 5 as illustrated, with the hook point 6 c projecting fromthe forked tail lure body 5 forwardly of the caudal fin 2, asillustrated and a hook eye 6 a on the opposite, forward-protruding endof the hook shank 6 b for attachment to a fishing line (notillustrated). In a typical retrieval, the line of a rod and reelcombination (not illustrated) is attached to the hook eye 6 a and theforked tail lure 1 then retrieved through a water body at a selectedspeed, in conventional fashion.

A forked tail portion 7 is typically integrally molded with the forkedtail lure body 5 and extends from the forked tail lure body 5 at aforked tail neck 9 of selected thickness and proportions. A forked tailprojection or shoulder 8 extends along both sides of the forked tailportion 7 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the forked tail lure 1and is convex in shape throughout its entirety and protrudes outwardlyin a lateral direction from the longitudinal axis of the forked taillure 1. On each side of the forked tail portion 7, the forked tailshoulder 8 defines the boundary between the rear curved margin of a neckextension or appendage 9 a of the tail neck 9 and the complementaryfront curved margin of a concave tail fork 10. The forked tail shoulder8 extends rearwardly along a pair of fork extension curvatures 11 a todefine a pair of fork extensions 11, divided at the tail fork 10, asfurther illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 7–12 of the drawings, the forked tail lure 1 isillustrated with forked tail necks 9 of varying thickness, as moreparticularly illustrated in FIGS. 8, 10 and 12, respectively, tofacilitate a swimming action which is either more or less pronounced asto the degree of movement and vibration of the forked tail portion 7 fora selected speed of retrieval. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8and 12 of the drawings, under circumstances where the forked tail neck 9is relatively thin in cross-section (FIG. 8), side-to-side movement ofthe forked tail portion 7 in a simulated swimming action will be fasterand very pronounced and will create more vibration in the forked tailportion 7 and generated in the forked tail lure body 5, than it would ina circumstance where the forked tail neck 9 is thicker, as indicated inFIG. 12, for a given speed of retrieval of the forked tail lure 1through a water body. Additionally, the wider the fork tail shoulder 8,the slower the “wiggle” or oscillation and the wider the degree ofoscillation or side-to-side movement of the forked tail portion 7 duringretrieval of the forked tail lure 1. Moreover, the angle or slope of theneck extension or appendage 9 a with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe fork tail neck 9 also determines the speed and degree of oscillationof the forked tail portion 7. The speed and degree of “wiggle” oroscillation of the forked tail portion 7 illustrated in FIGS. 8, 10 and12 resulting from the drag and eddy effect of the water pressure againstthe forked tail shoulder 8 and the degree of vibration in the forkedtail lure body 5 for a selected retrieval speed is therefore a functionof the flexibility and resiliency of the plastic material ofconstruction, the thickness of the forked tail neck 9, and the extent ofprotrusion, size, shape and angle of the forked tail shoulder 8 of theforked tail lure 1. Various alternative shapes of the forked tailportion 7 are detailed in FIGS. 13–25 of the drawings.

Referring now to FIGS. 3–6 of the drawings, a block tail lure isgenerally illustrated by reference numeral 14 and includes a block taillure body 20, shaped generally in the configuration of a minnow or baitfish and having a simulated caudal fin 2, anal fin 3 and pectoral fins4. A block tail portion 15 is either molded integrally with or attachedto the block tail body 20 as heretofore described with respect to theforked tail lure 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the block tailportion 15 is characterized by a linear block tail shoulder 16 whichextends transversely across the width of the block tail portion 15without curvature, unlike the forked tail portion 7 illustrated in theforked tail lure 1. As further illustrated in FIGS. 4–6, the block tailshoulder 16 includes a block tail shoulder neck 17 of selected size andthickness and a block tail extension 18 that connects the block tailneck 17 to the block tail shoulder 16. The degree of curvature and thelength of the block tail extension 18 may vary, along with the size andthickness of the block tail shoulder 16, to define a desired degree ofvibration of the block tail portion 15 and the block tail body 20, for aselected speed of retrieval of the block tail lure 14. As furtherillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, it has been found that a block tailshoulder taper 19 in the rear extending edges of the block tail shoulder16 further enhances the swimming action and the vibration of the blocktail portion 15 and block tail body 20. As in the case of the forkedtail lure 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hook 6 can be inserted inthe block tail lure body 20 for retrieval purposes, as heretoforedescribed. Moreover, the speed and degree of side-to-side “wiggle” oroscillation of the block tail portion 15 and the vibration generated inthe block tail body 20 at a selected retrieval speed is a function ofthe width of the block tail shoulder 16 and block tail neck 17, as wellas the resiliency of the block tail neck 17 and the angle of the blocktail shoulders 16 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blocktail neck 17.

Referring now to FIG. 26 of the drawings, in another embodiment of theinvention a flexible, resilient, typically plastic thin fin lure 22 isillustrated, with a thin fin lure body 23 that generally simulates abait fish or minnow and a caudal fin 2 and anal fin 3 that are large,thin, resilient and flexible in order to undulate and “swim” as the thinfin lure 22 is retrieved through a water body. The caudal fin 2 and analfin 3 typically extend from the thin fin lure body 23 rearwardly and areattached to a forked tail portion 7 at the top and bottom thereof. Theforked tail portion 7 is typically characterized by a tail fork 10,defined by a forked tail shoulder 8 and including a curved neckextension or appendage 9 a, along with fork extension curvatures 11 athat extend the forked tail shoulder 8, to define the forked tailportion 7. Alternatively, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that a block tail portion 15 illustrated in FIGS. 3–6 may besubstituted for the forked tail portion 7 to achieve an alternativeswimming action and vibration in all portions of the thin fin lure 22.

Referring to FIG. 27 of the drawings, a dual vertical forked tail lure24 is illustrated having a typically flexible, resilient, plastic dualforked tail lure body 25, connected to or integrally formed with a dualforked tail portion 26. As in the case of the lures illustratedheretofore, the dual forked tail portion 26 includes a pair of forkedtail portions 7, connected to the dual forked tail lure body 25 by aforked tail neck 9 of selected thickness and length. Thevertically-oriented forked tail portions 7 of the dual forked tailportion 26 are separated by a horizontal tail portion slot 27, and eachincludes a forked tail shoulder 8, defining the curved rear margin of acorresponding neck extension 9 a and the curved front margin of a tailfork 10, and including a fork extension curvature 11 a, extending fromthe forked tail shoulder 8 to define a pair of fork extensions 11 andthe tail fork 10, as illustrated. The shoulder 8 extends along bothsides of each of the forked tail portions 7 transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the forked tail lure 24 and is convex in shapethroughout its entirety and protrudes outwardly in a lateral directionfrom the longitudinal axis of the forked tail lure 24. Accordingly, asthe dual vertical forked tail lure 24 is retrieved through a water bodyat a selected speed, both of the forked tail portions 7 of the dualforked tail portion 26 flutter, “swim”, and vibrate as heretoforedescribed with respect to the forked tail portions 7 illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2 and 7–25, and generate a corresponding “swimming” action inthe dual forked tail lure body 25, to simulate the swimming action of abait fish. In an alternative embodiment, the dual forked tail portion 26in the vertical dual forked tail lure 24 can be replaced by dual blocktail portions 15 (only one of which is included in the embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 3–6). Further in the alternative, a forked tailportion 7 can be combined with a block tail portion 15 in the dualvertical forked tail lure 24, as desired.

Referring to FIG. 28 of the drawings, a dual block fin lure 30 isillustrated and is typically constructed of flexible, resilient,typically plastic material of suitable composition. The dual block finlure 30 includes a dual block fin body 31, fitted with a simulateddorsal block fin 32 and a caudal block fin 33, each terminated at theends thereof with a block tail shoulder 16, typically defined asheretofore described and as illustrated in FIGS. 3–6 of the drawings.Accordingly, each of the block tail shoulders 16 provided in the dorsalblock fin 32 and the caudal block fin 33 includes a block tail neckextension 18, extending from the relatively flat, thin surface area ofthe flexible and resilient dorsal block fin 32 and the caudal block fin33, respectively, to the block tail shoulder 16, as further illustratedin FIGS. 4–6 of the drawings, the dorsal block fin 32 and the caudalblock fin 33 being similar in design to the block tail portion 15 ineach of FIGS. 4–6. A pair of flexible, resilient streamer fins 34 may beextended from a forked tail portion 7, typically connected at a forkedtail neck 9 to the dual block fin lure body 31 of the dual block fin 30,as further illustrated in FIG. 28. Furthermore, the forked tail portion7 may typically include a neck extension or appendage 9 a that extendsfrom the forked neck 9 to the forked tail shoulder 8, and forkextensions 11 and fork extension curvatures 11 a further define thecurvature of the forked tail shoulder 8. Accordingly, when the dualblock fin lure 30 is fitted with a hook 6 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and retrievedthrough a water body, the dorsal block fin 32, caudal block fin 33 andthe forked tail portion 7, as well as the neck extension 9 a and thedual block fin body 31, all undulate and “swim” from side-to-side, tofurther simulate the swimming of a bait fish through the water. It willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that alternatives in the dualblock fin lure 30 are possible, such as by way of example, replacingeach or either of the block tail shoulders 16 in the dorsal block fin 32and the caudal block fin 33, respectively, with a forked tail portion 7and replacing the single forked tail portion 7 with a block tailshoulder 16, or any combination of these tail portion configurations.

Referring to FIG. 29 of the drawings, a dual horizontal forked tail lure37 is illustrated and is characterized by a typically flexible,resilient, plastic, dual horizontal forked tail lure body 38, shapedgenerally in the configuration of a minnow or small bait fish and havinga dual horizontal forked tail portion 40, with simulated pectoral fins4, a dorsal block fin 32 and a caudal block fin 33, the latter two finsof which are equipped with block tail shoulders 16, respectively. As inthe case of the dual block fin lure 30 illustrated in FIG. 28, in thedual horizontal forked tail lure 37, both the dual block fin 32 andcaudal block fin 33 are each characterized by a curved block tail neckextension 18 that extends from the expanse of the dorsal block fin 32and the caudal block fin 33, respectively, to the extension of the blocktail shoulder 16, as further illustrated in FIG. 29. The dual horizontalforked tail portion 40 of the dual horizontal forked tail lure 37 isresilient and flexible and connected to or formed integrally with thedual horizontal forked tail lure body 38 at a forked tail neck 9 ofselected size and length and includes a pair of horizontal forked tailportions 7, separated by a tail portion slot 39 and each provided with aforked tail shoulder 8 that curves rearwardly to define fork extensions11 along corresponding fork extension curvatures 11 a. Accordingly, thedual horizontal forked tail lure 37 may be retrieved through a waterbody by means of a hook embedded therein, typically as illustrated inFIG. 1. The dorsal block fin 32 and caudal block fin 33 then vibrate and“swim” through a vertical plane, while the dual forked tail portions 7of the dual horizontal forked tail portion 40 vibrate and “swim” througha horizontal plane, both planar vibrations effecting a vibration andsimulated swimming action of the dual horizontal forked tail lure body38. It is understood that the dual horizontal forked tail portion 40 canbe replaced on the lure body 38 with a dual horizontal block tailportion (not illustrated), wherein a pair of block tail portions 15(FIG. 3) instead of the forked tail portions 7, as illustrated, extendfrom the forked tail neck 9.

Referring now to FIG. 30 of the drawings, a removable tail lure 42 isillustrated, having either a hard or soft plastic, removable tail lurebody 43 with optional simulated pectoral fins 4 and typically fittedwith treble hooks 44. A flexible, resilient, typically plastic forkedtail portion 7 is attached to the removable tail lure body 43 at aforked tail neck 9 by means of a tail connector 46 such as wire, a pairof screw-eyes or other connection known to those skilled in the art, tofacilitate “swimming” movement of the forked tail portion 7, as well asthe removable tail lure body 43, as the removable tail lure 42 isretrieved through a water body. Alternative forked tail portions 7 canbe attached to the removable tail lure body 43 by simply removing andre-attaching the tail connector 46. It will be appreciated that theselection of the tail portion element of the lure can include the blocktail portion 15 illustrated in the block tail lure 14 shown in FIGS. 3–6of the drawings, as well as other tail configurations, including theforked tail portion 7 configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7–25.

Referring to FIG. 31 of the drawings, a spinner bait lure 49 isillustrated which may be generally the same design as the removable taillure 42 without the treble hooks and thus, may include a removableflexible, resilient, typically plastic forked tail portion 7, which isattached to the spinner bait lure body 50, fitted with a wire harness 51attached to a jig head 57. The wire harness 51 is typically conventionalin design and has a harness bend 52 for attachment to a fishing line andretrieval of the spinner bait lure 49 through a water body, wherein theforked tail portion 7 “swims” and vibrates, thus generating acorresponding simulated swimming of the spinner bait lure body 50 and apulsating action of the skirt 60. Alternatively, a modified jig head 57a, typically as illustrated in FIG. 33, may be fixed to the wire harness51 and a lure such as the forked tail lure 1, block tail lure 14, thinfin lure 22, dual block fin lure 30 or the dual horizontal forked taillure 37, as well as any other selected lure having a tail portion designof this invention, may be attached to the jig head hook 59 of the jighead 57 a, as desired, with similar simulated swimming results.

Referring now to the jig head 57 illustrated in FIG. 32, the jig head57, is characterized by a jig head eye 58 for attachment to a retrievingline (not illustrated) and a jig head hook 59 is embedded in thetypically lead or other metallic jig head 57 and extends outwardly fromthe rear of the jig head 57, typically oriented upwardly and forwardly,where it may optionally be engaged by a weed guard 59 a, also extendingfrom the jig head 57. A jig head skirt 60 is characteristically furtherattached to the jig head 57 or to the jig head hook 59, where it joinsthe jig head 57 to conceal the jig head hook 59. A resilient, flexible,typically plastic lure such as the forked tail lure 1, block tail lure14, thin fin lure 22, dual block fin lure 30, dual horizontal forkedtail lure 37 or other lure detailed herein may be impaled on the jighead hook 59 as indicated in FIG. 32 and the combination of the jig head57 and the typically forked tail lure 1 illustrated in FIG. 32 may beretrieved, with the flexible, resilient forked tail portion 7 and theforked tail lure body 5 undulating and swimming and the jig head skirtpulsating in a life-like manner in the water body.

Referring now to FIG. 33 of the drawings, a flexible, resilient,typically plastic beaded worm body 63 may be attached to a modified jighead 57 a generally in the same manner as the forked tail lure 1illustrated in FIG. 32, except that the tip of the jig head hook 59 isreinserted in the beaded worm body 63 rearwardly of the head thereof, torender the lure weedless. The beaded worm body 63 may be provided with adesired number of integral body beads 64 to define a beaded worm body 63of selected length. The beaded worm body 63 is typically terminated by aflexible, resilient forked tail portion 7, which operates in the samemanner as the forked tail portion 7 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7–25as heretofore described, to impart a life-like swimming action,accentuated by the flexible beaded worm body 63, to the modified jighead 57.

Referring to FIG. 34 of the drawings, a crawfish lure is generallyrepresented by reference numeral 67 and typically includes a flexible,resilient crawfish lure body 68 configured generally in the shape of acrawfish and having a crawfish lure tail 69 extending therefrom. A pairof flexible, resilient forked claws 70 project as appendages from thecrawfish lure body 68 and are each terminated by a claw fork shoulder73, defined by a pair of claw forked neck extensions or appendages 75,each extending from a curved claw fork neck 74 in each of the forkedclaws 70. Claw fork extensions 72 extend from the claw fork shoulder 73to define a claw fork 71, and the entire forked claw 70 design may bethe same as the forked tail portions detailed in applicant's FIGS. 1, 2and 7–25. Alternatively, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that each of the claw shoulders 73 may be designed in the samemanner as the block tail shoulder 16 illustrated in FIGS. 2–6. In use,the crawfish lure 67 is normally attached to a hook (not illustrated)that is typically embedded in the crawfish lure tail 69 or the crawfishlure body 68, such that the crawfish lure 67 is retrieved rearwardly,thus allowing the flexible, resilient forked claws 70, as well as thecrawfish lure body 68 and the crawfish lure tail 69, to vibrate and“swim” in the same manner as the forked tail lure 1 illustrated in FIGS.1, 2 and 7–25.

Referring to FIG. 35 of the drawings, a flexible, resilient, typicallyplastic segmented worm lure 77 is illustrated, having multiple wormsegments 78 of desired size and number extending from a worm head 79 toa smaller tail connector 81. A flexible, resilient, typically plasticsegmented worm lure tail portion 80 is connected to the tail connector81 and typically includes a segmented worm lure tail shoulder 85,designed in essentially the same manner as the fork tail shoulder 8 ofthe fork tail portion 7 of the forked tail lure illustrated in FIGS. 1,2 and 7–25. A worm lure tail fork extension 83 extends from thesegmented worm lure tail shoulder 85 at each end of a worm tail fork 82,and a worm lure tail extension 84 extends from the tail connector 81 todefine the enlarged segmented worm lure tail shoulder 85, as furtherillustrated in FIG. 35. In use, the worm head 79 is typically embeddedon a hook such as a hook 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 or the jig head hooks57 and 57 a, illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33, respectively, to facilitateattachment of a retrieval line (not illustrated) and as the segmentedworm lure 77 is retrieved through a water body at a selected speed, thesegmented worm lure tail portion 80 vibrates and “swims” in the samemanner as the forked tail portion 7 of the forked tail lure 1illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7–25, but with an accentuated vibrationthat transfers energy to, and extends along the length of the worm body77 a, due to the flexible tail connector 81, to attract fish.Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the segmented worm lure tailportion 80 may be replaced by a block tail portion 15 illustrated inFIGS. 3–6 to achieve a similar composite “swimming” function.

Referring to FIG. 36 of the drawings, a multiple shoulder forked taillure 87 is illustrated, having a typically, flexible, resilient multipleshoulder forked tail lure body 88, shaped generally in the configurationof a minnow or small bait fish with a simulated caudal fin 2 and analfins 3, as well as pectoral fins 4, and further including a flexible,resilient, typically plastic multiple shoulder tail portion 89, providedwith multiple transverse shoulder forked tail portion shoulders 91.Typically, the forked tail portion shoulders 91 are aligned insubstantially parallel relationship with respect to each other acrossthe forked tail neck 9 of the multiple shoulder tail portion 89. Amultiple shoulder tail portion fork 90 is provided in the extreme rearend of the multiple shoulder tail portion 89 and extends outwardly todefine a pair of multiple shoulder tail portion fork extensions 92, asillustrated. The projecting multiple tail portions shoulders 91 serve tocreate a multiple drag and eddy effect in the multiple shoulder tailportion 89 and cause the multiple shoulder tail portion 89 to vibrateand “swim” and the multiple shoulder forked tail lure body 88 to also“swim”, when the lure is retrieved.

Referring now to FIG. 37 of the drawings, a slotted tail lure 94 isprovided and has a typically flexible, resilient, plastic slotted taillure body 95 with a simulated caudal fin 2, anal fin 3 and pectoral fins4. A flexible, resilient, plastic slotted tail portion 96 is attached orshaped integrally with the slotted tail lure body 95 at a slotted tailneck 99 of selected thickness and length and includes a slotted tailshoulder 98, defined by a slotted tail neck extension 100 that projectsfrom the slotted tail neck 99 rearwardly of the slotted tail lure body95. A tail slot 97 is provided adjacent to the slotted tail shoulder 98and defines a pair of slot extensions 97 a, to facilitate a uniquevibrating function of the slotted tail portion 96, which generates acorresponding vibration in the slotted tail lure body 95, when theslotted tail lure 94 is attached to a hook or a jig head such as thehook 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 or the jig head hook 57 and 57 a,illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33, respectively, and the slotted tail lure94 is retrieved through a water body at a selected speed.

Referring to FIG. 38 of the drawings, in another embodiment of theinvention, a grooved tail lure 101 is detailed and includes a flexible,resilient grooved tail lure body 102 which is characteristicallymanufactured of a soft plastic material. A typically soft plastic,grooved tail portion 103 is either formed integrally with or attached toa grooved tail neck 108 that extends from the grooved tail lure body102, and a grooved tail neck extension appendage or 109 of the groovedtail neck 108 is characterized by a tail groove 104 that extends througha grooved tail shoulder 105 on each side of the grooved tail portion103. A grooved tail fork 106 is provided in the grooved tail portion 103and extends bidirectionally to define a pair of grooved tail forkextensions 107, as further illustrated in FIG. 38. Accordingly,attachment of the grooved tail 101 to a hook such as the hook 6illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the jig head hook 57 and 57 aillustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33, respectively, facilitates “swimming” ofthe grooved tail lure 101 and the grooved tail lure body 102 through thewater, and vibration of the grooved tail portion 103 simulates the“swimming” action.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the various tailportions, tail portion combinations and appendages described above withrespect to applicant's drawings can be used with variations of eitherthe forked tail portion 7, block tail portion 15, dual forked tailportion 26 and various other combinations described above, to facilitatethe objective of effecting a hard body or flexible fishing lure that isable to “swim” through the water and vibrate at various retrieval speedsto closely simulate a “swimming” lizard, worm, crawfish, grub, minnow,tube bait and the like. Furthermore, these lures can be impaled on hooksof various design and attached to jig heads such as the jig head 57 andmodified jig head 57 a and fitted with a harness, as in the case of thespinner bait lure 49. Various other hook combinations and jig headcombinations and the like known to those skilled in the art can be usedin connection with the flexible fishing lure tails and appendages ofthis invention.

It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art from aconsideration of the drawings that the various tail and appendage neckareas can be varied in size and length, along with the size, shape andangle of the respective projecting shoulder pairs to create a vibrationof selected proportions in all portions or segments of the lures, at anyselected speed of retrieval of the lures through the water body. Asdescribed above, this total lure vibration is more pronounced in thethinner the tail or appendage neck and the more pronounced the shoulderprojections at a selected retrieval speed. Furthermore, the respectivebody portions of the lures of this invention to which the tail vibrationis imparted, can be constructed of hard plastic, wood, fiberglass andother materials, as well as molded of soft, flexible, resilient plasticmaterials of suitable composition, according to the knowledge of thoseskilled in the art. Since the vibration and “swimming” action of theserespective tail and appendage assemblies depends upon the drag and eddyprinciple, that is, the shoulder causing drag in the water and thesloped rear shape or angle of the shoulder creating an eddy behind thetail portion, the shape of the respective neck and shoulder projectionsis also a factor in controlling the degree of vibration of the tailassembly and thus, the body portions, for any given speed of retrieval.

It has further been found that the forward projecting edges of each ofthe shoulders described above must be round rather than squared off, inorder to create the desired lure “swimming” action. The rear edges ofthe shoulders for example, at the respective forked extensions may besquare, but the forward edge elements of the shoulders should always berounded.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

1. A fishing lure comprising a lure body; a bifurcated dual tail portionextending from a rear end of said lure body, said dual tail portionhaving a pair of flexible forked tail portions and said pair of flexibleforked tail portions each having opposite surfaces, respectively, saidforked tail portions each further comprising an upper fork extension, alower fork extension and a central portion therebetween, said upper forkextension and said lower fork extension diverging from said centralportion, said upper and lower fork extension being substantiallysymmetrical in shape with respect to each other, wherein the divergencebetween said upper and lower fork extensions begins at a location whichis rearward from the beginning of the fork between the forked tailportions; and a single, rounded, solid, continuous and unbroken shoulderprovided in each of said opposite surfaces of said forked tail portions,said single, rounded, solid, continuous and unbroken shoulder extendingoutwardly transverse to a longitudinal axis of said fishing lure fromsaid upper fork extension and downwardly and forwardly to said centralportion and then downwardly and rearwardly to said lower fork extensionfrom said central portion on each of said opposite surfaces, saidsingle, rounded, solid, continuous and unbroken shoulder having asubstantially convex shape throughout its entirety, for impartingvibration to said pair of flexible forked tail portions and said lurebody responsive to retrieval of said fishing lure through a water body.2. The fishing lure of claim 1 wherein said lure body and said pair offlexible forked tail portions are constructed of flexible plastic. 3.The fishing lure of claim 1 wherein said dual tail portion comprises adual, substantially vertically-oriented forked tail portion.
 4. Thefishing lure of claim 3, wherein said lure body, said dual,substantially vertically-oriented forked tail portion and said pair offlexible forked tail portions are constructed of flexible plastic.
 5. Afishing lure comprising a lure body; at least two flexible appendagesextending from a rear end of said lure body; a forked end portionprovided on each of said flexible appendages, said forked end portionhaving opposite surfaces and said forked end portion further comprisingan upper fork extension, a lower fork extension and a central portiontherebetween, said upper fork extension and said lower fork extensiondiverging from said central portion, said upper and lower forkextensions being substantially symmetrical in shape with respect to eachother; and a single, rounded, solid, continuous and unbroken shoulderprovided in each of said opposite surfaces of said forked end portion,said single, rounded, solid, continuous and unbroken shoulder extendingoutwardly transverse to a longitudinal axis of said fishing lure fromsaid upper fork extension and downwardly and forwardly to said centralportion and then downwardly and rearwardly to said lower fork extensionfrom said central portion on each of said opposite surfaces, saidsingle, rounded, solid, continuous and unbroken shoulder having asubstantially convex shape throughout its entirety, for impartingvibration to said forked end portion, said flexible appendages and saidlure body responsive to retrieval of said fishing lure through a waterbody.
 6. The fishing lure of claim 5 wherein said lure body, said atleast two flexible appendages and said forked end portions areconstructed of flexible plastic.
 7. A method for inducing vibration inthe body and appendages of a fishing lure, comprising the steps of:providing a fishing lure having a body and at least two flexibleappendages extending from a rear end of the body; and providing a forkedend portion having opposite surfaces on each of the appendages, theforked end portion comprising an upper fork extension, a lower forkextension and a central portion therebetween, said upper fork extensionand said lower fork extension diverging from said central portion, saidupper and lower fork extensions being substantially symmetrical in shapewith respect to each other; and a single, rounded, solid, continuous andunbroken shoulder provided in each of said opposite surfaces of theforked end portion, said single, rounded, solid, continuous and unbrokenshoulder extending outwardly transverse to a longitudinal axis of saidfishing lure from said upper fork extension and downwardly and forwardlyto said central portion and then downwardly and rearwardly to said lowerfork extension from said central portion on each of said oppositesurfaces, said single, rounded, solid, continuous and unbroken shoulderhaving a substantially convex shape throughout its entirety, forvibrating the forked end portion, the appendages and the body of thefishing lure responsive to retrieval of the fishing lure through a waterbody.
 8. The method of claim 7 comprising the step of constructing atleast the at least two appendages and the forked end portion of thefishing lure of flexible plastic.
 9. The method of claim 7 comprisingthe step of constructing the body, the at least two flexible appendagesand the forked end portion of the fishing lure of flexible plastic.